Windows 11 – Installation and Upgrading

In this chapter, you will learn the concepts and best practices for installing the new Windows 11 to prepare you for the move to Windows 11 in the most feasible way. We will cover the new hardware requirements for Windows 11 and look at different installation options, such as the classic and well-known wipe-and-load option, the frequently used in-place upgrade option, and the more modern Windows Autopilot option.

This chapter demonstrates the conditions under which an in-place upgrade is possible. It will explain the new Modern Lifecycle Policy of Windows 11 and what effect it has on the older Windows 10. We will provide decision support for choosing the right channel (annual or LTSC). Additionally, we will show which activation options are available in an enterprise environment. We will round this chapter off with tips and tricks for a smooth in-place upgrade.

In this chapter, we will cover the following topics:

• Differences...

Selecting the edition and channel version

Windows 11 is available in different stock-keeping units (SKUs) (also known as editions) besides the Home edition, which doesn’t play a role in the professional environment. Other available editions include Pro, Pro for Workstation, Education, Enterprise, and Enterprise LTSC. For business use, you should go with Enterprise or Pro/Pro for Workstation, depending on your licensing.

There are also other special editions, such as the Team edition, which is installed on the Surface Hub, the Holographic edition, which runs on Microsoft Hololens, and the IoT Enterprise edition, which is a variation of Enterprise LTSC in terms of licensing, but not in terms of bits and bytes.

In addition, there is a new SE for Education version, which is kind of “Windows 11 light.” It has a reduced hardware floor for cost-effective devices in education, as well as SKUs such as Multi-Session, other special SKUs, and regional variants (N/KN...

Hardware requirements for Windows 11

In many ways, Windows 11 represents an innovation, coming six years after the release of Windows 10. Not only is it a major release for the first time since Windows 8.1, which causes support for several older CPU generations to expire, but it also represents a milestone on the client level with the end of 32-bit support. What we are already used to on the server side beginning with Server 2008 (Server 2008 was the first server OS offered as a 64-bit version only) will now also become standard for client operating systems. Windows 11 and all future versions will only be released as 64-bit (also on the ARM side). More details about the reasons for this CPU decision can be found in the CPU limitations section further on in this chapter.

Official (minimum) requirements

There are other important system requirements that can also be a stumbling block, such as UEFI, TPM 2.0, and so on. Therefore, let’s take a closer look at the minimum requirements...

Upgrading to Windows 11

With the introduction of Windows 10, there was a change to the installation mantra. Earlier, it was recommended you create a golden image and always perform a wipe-and-load sequence. Now, since Windows 10, it is recommended you perform an in-place upgrade, and this has not changed with Windows 11. The same techniques you are familiar with in Windows 10 can be used with Windows 11.

The various feature updates of Windows 10 have already used the mechanisms of the in-place update. Therefore, the transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11 feels more like another feature release and goes smoothly and without problems. Windows 11 has 99.7% application compatibility. Out of more than 1.2 million applications tested, just over 3,000 applications are not compatible as of Spring 2022. Therefore, an in-place upgrade is the way to go if you want to move from Windows 10 to Windows 11 quickly. Microsoft customers with an E3/E5 contract can get compatibility assistance when...

Activation of Windows 11

For corporate customers, there are three easy ways to activate Windows 11. The good news is that the same mechanisms can be used with Windows 10. Which of these options is the most suitable depends on whether you are running on-premises, hybrid joined, or AAD only. Let’s take a closer look at the three options.

Classic activation by Multiple Activation Key (MAK) or Key Management Services (KMS)

In the on-premises and hybrid joined scenarios, you can still use the classic Key Management Services (KMS). If you use AAD only, only the Multiple Activation Key (MAK) can be used easily for the classic activation services.

KMS servers have the disadvantage of not offering any extra authentication and are therefore in need of special protection. They originate from an era of corporate LANs. Anyone who knows the IP address and listening port of the KMS server by reading the values of an active client can then use this information to activate any client...

Tips and tricks for a smooth in-place upgrade from Windows 8.1 or 10 to Windows 11

The in-place upgrade is already very stable and robust, but with some tips, you can improve the robustness even more.

Looking up SetupDiag data in case of error/rollback

It is important to pay attention to the error codes and rollbacks and to look at the log files in the case of an error. This is the only way to detect a general problem at an early stage and provide a central solution quickly. SetupDiag.exe, which has been integrated directly into the sources since Windows 10 2004, is a very helpful tool. It automatically detects more than 40 possible causes of problems and provides an evaluation that is easy to read for humans. By regularly evaluating this data, scripted solutions can be developed quickly. The need for manual intervention therefore decreases significantly. If Microsoft Endpoint Manager Admin Center is in use, this data can also be viewed directly there.

Integrating cumulative...

Selecting the deployment tools

It is not easy to select deployment tools. Different people will have different preferences and therefore favor different deployment tools. But perhaps we can roll up to the question from a different angle, as it is just the same if you use MDT, MECM, or a third-party deployment. You also need to decide whether you want to continue installing on-premises, or whether you are on the way to modern management with MDM and AAD (or have already arrived there). Accordingly, the deployment tool should be able to handle this option. MECM is well positioned for a transition with its co-management option.

It is important to use the latest ADK delivered with the Windows 11 release you are deploying. Your ADK should be one release older at the most, so have a look at the known issues page of the ADK before picking it. From this important requirement and the release cadence of one Windows 11 release per year, we come to the next prerequisite.

Your chosen deployment...

Summary

In this chapter, you learned the concepts and best practices of the available deployment options with Windows 11. We looked into the traditional wipe-and-load method and the complementary newer options of in-place upgrades, provisioning, and Autopilot, and provided some context to the difference these deployment options can make.

The next chapter will walk you through enterprise deployment and in-place upgrade techniques. Deployment tools will be covered, as well as tips and tricks to smooth in-place upgrades from Windows 8.1 or 10 up to Windows 11 and to migrate user state information and settings.